Skip to main content
Date: 1/5/2023
Subject: The Voter January 2023 League of Women Voters Wichita Metro
From: LWVWichita Communications



A Message from our Co-Presidents

Happy New Year!
 
We hope your holiday season was a time of friends, and family, joy and reflection, and a chance to catch your breath. We share the grief of those for whom the holidays are difficult, for whatever reason, offering what comfort we can.

With a fresh new year, we have fresh challenges and opportunities, along with some old challenges that carry forward. There are new faces at all levels of government, each with the potential to be an ally or make things more challenging. If you looked at the flyer sent out by LWVK, you have an idea of just some of the issues they’d like us to focus on.

And, so, our Unit meeting in January will be a planning meeting – a chance to decide what our priorities are as a League and how we can work on them most effectively. Come ready to put forward the issues that matter most to you. Also, come ready to commit to working on those issues in the ways that best fit your skills and the needs of the League.

We also need to start thinking about nominations for our officers later in the year. If you’ve ever wondered if you could do one of the elected positions, it’s not too early to start asking questions or even shadowing the current office holder. Secretary, Treasurer, and one Co-President are elected each year, and any of us would be glad to answer questions or include you in our work so you can try it on for size.

In addition to the Unit meeting, there are lots of other things going on, including the inaugural presentation in the Environmental Justice series we’ve been working on for a while, and briefings on concerns from the State League. Check out the events list later in this newsletter.

Even though this isn’t a big election year, there is plenty of work to be done, and all of us need to pitch in if we’re going to make any progress at all.

See you at the Unit meeting!
Martha Pint and Nancy Brown, Co-Presidents


Next Naturalization Ceremony
Jan. 20 2023 - 10:30 am | Helping new citizens become educated voters is one of the most gratifying experiences as a representative of LWVW-M according to our volunteers. Volunteers are requested to arrive at 10:30 am. The ceremony is from 11am to noon at WSU Hughes Metropolitan Complex- Lowe Auditorium 5015 E. 29th Street North Wichita, Kansas.
Sign up here:
volunteersignup.org/EEBML

Upcoming Naturalization Ceremonies
February 24th, 2023
March 24th, 2023
April 14th, 2023
May 18th, 2023
June 16th, 2023
July 21st, 2023
August 18th, 2023
September 15th, 2023
October 20th, 2023
November 9th, 2023
December 8th, 2023

Mark your calendars today!

League of Women Voters-Kansas
Election Administration Position Statement Revision Committee Meeting
Saturday, January 7, 2023 by Zoom
1:00-2:30pm (CST)


The LWVK Election Administration Study Committee will hold an informational meeting on January 7 to present its proposed update to LWVK's Election Administration position. The proposed update will draw from the existing positions of LWVUS and other state Leagues using the concurrence process. The presentation will include results from a survey questionnaire sent out to all 105 county election offices in Kansas after the November election. It will also include an overview of a few election methods used across the US as alternatives to the plurality elections that are commonly used in Kansas. There will also be several discussion questions for members to consider as they evaluate the proposed updates.

League of Women Voters-Kansas
Redistricting Position Statement Briefing
Thursday January 12, 2023 by Zoom  
Must register in advance
6:00-7:30pm (CST)

League members and friends will learn about the proposed new redistricting position statement recommended to the LWVK Board by the LWVK Apportionment Position Statement Committee of the PPFM Working Group.

How to Attend:
Register in advance here to attend the Redistricting Position Statement meeting.
 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

REGISTER IN ADVANCE HERE FOR THE MEETING

League of Women Voters Wichita-Metro
All Membership Planning Meeting
Location: Advanced Learning Library | 711 W 2nd St.
Monday January 23, 2023
6:00pm-8pm 

For those of you who are not familiar with the Planning Meeting, it is an “all member” meeting and will be our regular meeting for the month held at the Advanced Learning Library. The Planning Meeting is a time when we, as a local membership, discuss and decide what issues we feel need to be prioritized for the coming year. Also, we’ll discuss and decide whether a local study is needed and, if so, who might chair the study.
LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION BY EMAIL SOON!

Tuesday Topics: Midterm Election Results and Forecasts
January 24, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Advanced Learning Library
 
The 2022 election cycle has been unique in many ways, and the impact of this election will be seen in the days and months ahead as well as in the 2023 legislative session.  Join us for a look at the results of the 2022 elections with analysis and a peek into the 2023 Legislative Session by Dr. Russell Arben Fox, Professor of Political Science at Friends University.  Find out more about how this year’s candidates will shape public policy and shape the decisions that will affect our lives.
 
Environmental Justice 101
January 30, 2023
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Advanced Learning Library
711 W 2nd St., Wichita, KS


What is environmental justice? How is it linked to community planning? And, how is it showing up in our own communities?  Jeff Severin, sustainability planner and Program Manager for the Environmental Finance Center at Wichita State University, will kick off this series exploring connections between environmental and social challenges and facilitate a conversation about environmental justice concerns in the City of Wichita.

 
SAVE THE DATE
April 22, 2023
LWVK Convention will be on April 22 in person at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W 2nd St. Wichita, KS.  We are busy planning our speakers and break-out sessions. Stay tuned for more information!

Membership News

If you haven't renewed your League of Women Voters Membership membership, please do now! We are stronger with you. We report our membership to LWVUS and LWVK on January 31 so we want our membership rolls in good order.

Mail your check to Treasurer, LWV Wichita-Metro, PO Box 2411, Wichita, KS 67201 or renew on-line at lwvwichita.org to pay by credit card. If you are a student member your dues are still $0 but we do need you to let us know you want to continue your membership by going to lwvwichita.org to renew or sending an e-mail to membership@lwvwichita.org

Dues are $65 a year for regular membership
$97.50 for household membership
$0 for student membership.
$75 for sustaining membership.

Contact a League Board member if you are able to be active in the work of the Wichita League but the dues amounts are a hurdle.


The Membership Committee


Stay Connected with the League

Check us out on Instagram and Twitter
Check our Events page here.
Keep current on developments through our Facebook Page
Find out more about what the League of Women Voters of Kansas is doing.
We welcome your feedback! Please contact the editor
Our previous issues of our newsletter are here.

League of Women Voters of Wichita Metro